Kerry GAA Gala Fundraising Dinner in Dublin a tremendous successThe inaugural Kerry GAA Gala Fundraising Black Tie Dinner held at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel, Dublin on the eve of the League game between the two All Ireland finalists last weekend turned out to be a tremendous success.

The big attendance of over 600 people included many of the legendary stars of the great Kerry-Dublin clashes down the years with the Kerry representatives led by trainer supreme, Mick O’Dwyer , Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan , centenary captain Ambrose O’Donovan and a host of former and current stars ranging from Jerome O’Shea and Johnny Culloty to present day stars Colm Cooper and James O’Donoghue while the Brogans, Bernard senior and junior, Tommy Drumm and Alan Larkin, to name but a few, were there representing the Dubs. Johnny Sexton of Rugby fame, who has strong Kerry links, was also there and the hurling fraternity were ably represented by Tipperary’s Liam Sheedy and Kilkenny’s own Eddie Keher. Darragh Moloney of RTE did an excellent job as MC for the night.

Not surprisingly, Kerry county committee chairman, Patrick O’Sullivan, was very pleased with the night; “It was a very successful event and a tremendous occasion as well and it marked our first attempt at organising a major fundraiser in the capital. The Kerry business people in Dublin came out in force and I want to thank everyone who supported the event and especially the organising committee under Luke Moriarty John Gallagher, Richard Willis and Mark Kennedy”.

All proceeds from Friday’s event will be invested in the development of training and coaching facilities at the Kerry Centre of Excellence projects in Currans and Tralee IT and the chairman also revealed plans for further fundraising events in various locations in the coming months; “We are presently planning for fundraising Golf Classics in London, Boston, Chicago and New York and an inaugural Fundraising Dinner and Golf Classic in San Francisco in May. Construction of Dressing Room facilities is due to commence in Currans at the end of the month and hopefully all those facilities will be in place and ready for use in the Autumn” he added.Click Here for photos from the night